Birth
of Ruby May

It all started on the 29th of November 2005. I woke
up that morning feeling very quiet and very introspective.
I felt a little weird but kept telling myself that I’d
felt that way before but not gone into labour... telling
myself to stop thinking of it.
That day, after getting my two sons off to day care,
my hubby Ben and I went to my father's house to fix
his computer. I spent the day reading and not really
doing anything much. In retrospect, I should’ve
taken advantage of the quiet and have a sleep!
Anyway, after a full day there, we came home just in
time for the boys to be home and things progressed as
normal. I went to bed at around 10pm, still feeling really
weird. I remember saying to Ben that I felt weird and
had better get some sleep in case something happened.
I woke up at 11.30pm with a pain. I waddled off to
the toilet and had a show with the pain coming regularly.
Ben was still awake so I mentioned it to him and again
said I’d better get some sleep. I went back
to bed but the pains were too uncomfortable to sleep
so I got up. I said to Ben that this was probably
'it' and we started timing the pains. They came every
10 minutes and were getting stronger. I was so excited!
Thru the pain I kept saying “Ruby’s coming!
Ruby is coming!”
I went and put on the relaxation CD that my doula
had given me and hopped onto the lounge, leaning over
the side with my head on the arm of the chair. I tried
really hard to relax and concentrate on what my body
was doing, but Ben was madly flying around getting
clean clothes off the line, asking me what I wanted
packed. So I got up and followed him into the bedroom.
It was midnight and I decided that we’d better
call Marion, my doula, as she lived an hour away and
I felt I needed her support as well, so Ben called
her. The pains were really getting to me then and
I didn’t want Ben out of my sight while I was
contracting. So every time I felt one coming I called
out to him and at the same time tried hard not to
wake the kids! I got a little teary at this point
because I was tired and it was really starting to
hurt. I got Ben to take a picture of me, my last picture
as a pregnant woman! I look so tired and scared in
it!
Marion pulled up in the driveway at around 1am and
I cried seeing her thru the window. I was so emotional!!!
She made me feel more in control and excited, but
I felt also scared and suggested we call my mother
and my sister-in-law. My mum was to come to the hospital
and my sister-in-law to watch the kids until my mother-in-law
would arrive. At around this time my son Reiley woke
up and Ben went to talk to him about what was going
on. He came and saw me and was really excited that
the baby was coming! And even more excited that his
Aunty Katie was coming to watch him! My other son
Jesse (bless him) slept through the whole thing!
Then I decided that I wanted to go to the hospital.
I explained to Reiley that Mummy was going to the
hospital now and gave him a huge hug and a kiss goodbye.
I went with my Mum in her little car and Ben went
with Marion. Amongst all the commotion we forgot to
ring the hospital and tell them that we were coming!
Whoops!
Once in the hospital we were shown into a birthing room… the
very same room I had given birth to Reiley in on 27th
of Jan 2002… AND given birth to Jesse in on the
11th of Jan 2004! Very special!!!
The nurse was just awful saying “right go do
a wee sample and get on the bed for monitoring”.
I got really upset and cranky, I’d only been
in the room for about 30 seconds and I felt like I’d
done the wrong thing by coming to the hospital. So
I did my wee, cursing the nurse, but I really didn’t
want to get on the bed. Eventually the actual midwife
came in (Leanne) and she was MUCH nicer. She checked
on bubs for what felt like a few seconds then let
me get on with it.
Things get a little hazy for me from here on. I started
using the gas and I remember standing up and singing
that Michael Buble song “Sway”. I remember
being in fairly good control but feeling really tired.
I tried to talk them into giving me an epidural, but
everyone kept saying I was coping too well and didn’t
need it. They were absolutely right but I was so disappointed
at the time!
The midwife did an internal a little while later and
found that I was 6cms dilated. I cried and said that
it would be at least another 4 hours yet. Everyone hastily
assured me that I had made it to 6cms in record time
and it wouldn’t be long before it was all over.
I got through the contractions by breathing on the gas,
having Marion rub my back, and saying to myself (and
anyone else in ear-shot) “I can do this!! I can
do it can’t I?” I had bruises on my back
for days after the birth because I had to have my back
rubbed REALLY hard to do any good.
Marion and my Mum kept asking me to change positions
or hop in the shower etc, but I kept telling them
“NO” very firmly… I remember saying
after being asked if I wanted a shower “No,
I don’t want to be wet” which really surprised
me because I loved the shower and bath when I was
in labour with both the boys. I really wanted to be
standing upright, but by 4am I was WAY too tired to
stand around anymore. I ended up spending most of
my time lying down on my left side… and sometimes
pedalling my right leg in the air! Weird! I think
this was what eventually caused me to start getting
labour pains in the top of my right leg.
A few hours later the midwife kept asking me if I
felt pushy, and I kept saying “No? I don’t
know!” I think I was way too tired to really
know. She did another internal and I was about 9cms
dilated. She said I could start pushing when I felt
ready. I felt like I wanted to and looked around and
realised that Ben must’ve gone outside for a
cigarette. I was determined not to push until he was
back. My body started doing half-hearted little pushes
on its own and I said, “Okay, I’m pushing”,
but I waited until Ben was back in the room before
pushing really hard. I felt baby’s head pushing
right up, squashing my bowel and almost crowning.
The midwife said something about me being able to
almost talk this baby out… and I think I said
something like “Come on baby!” We sat
there until the next contraction and then baby’s
head came out. Then one more and baby’s body
started sliding out, it felt a little bit stuck and
the midwife gave a bit of a pull and bubby was out!
They put her (I peeked as they were lifting her onto
me, it’s a GIRL!) on my belly almost immediately
and she was warm and kind of grey/purple. I had never
had my baby put straight onto my tummy before and
it was amazing. I felt really overwhelmed and teary.
My ultrasound said it was a girl, but I don’t
think I really believed it at all until I saw her.
Ben snapped a lovely photo with bubs on my belly.
I then got to cut the cord (another first for me!)
I remember the look on my Mum’s face when I
said her name, Ruby May. She looked really teary and
very happy. I quickly asked Ben if Ruby May was an
okay name, he said “of course, yeah!”
and they took her away for measuring, weighing etc.
After hugs, cuddles and pictures taken, everyone else
left and I was up and into the shower. We then had a
lovely breastfeed and I walked Ruby back to the wards.
As soon as we got settled it was sleep time, I can tell
you!
So far she’s been the perfect baby. She’s
5 weeks now and has been sleeping through the night
for a couple of weeks already. Her big brothers absolutely
love her and she’s fitted into our family perfectly.
I’m cherishing every moment, as sadly she’s
the last addition to our family.

Ruby May
Born: 30th November 2005 at 7:15am
Weight: 4.650kg or 10lbs 4ounces
Length: 58cms
Head Cir: 36cms
Length of labour: from 11.30pm it was 7hrs and 45
mins